New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-26
STATEMENT OF AN ALLEGED DEsERTER
CLAIMING TO BE NETWORK CLERK IMPRISONED
WITHOUT PROPER INQUIRY FOR ANOTHER


CLAIMING TO BE NETWORK CLERK IMPRISONED
WITHOUT PRoPER INQUIRY FOR ANOTHER
MANS CRIME. -------------
| CHICAGO July 25.-williAm ]. Manning Is staying at
ono OF principal hotels To reporter to-day no ro'
lated this tale: F.rr. o. ~r vf.F nerrs.eff rq ID.
in twenty -thirdsr where was smpoyed in New-Yerk
.Da went Ssss 1 wa: upS%
weil-dressed- man whe acted politely and
He addressed me coarteously and inquired my name,
witch gave him freely. .f ..f
"ioriand's IN twenty third st." replied He made
q note my answers. and said. abruptly Good oven
OF way for was mysted by ths suddennsss OF the
stranger Who had fersot.n 70 leave me hts
oaii at NO So ws.ss1. wsnd.TiaS sh.s !;
10 aSs note Il proysa 10 be branch oos q One Unsd
states Army recruiting depot On the doer was small
xpply here for enlistment" Here's some fun,
thought III request TO DO enlisted In the army juss Tor
The sergeant in the outer Office received me coldly
and when told hun wanted 70 be soldier ne LOOKED s
cared small. Thsn he said 1t was too late In
the day. and to come around tomorrow iasstea GA
something about my mysterious letter.
we he said, come IN" and entered Rssor,y
sat at q desk. The examining physician was
also there When 1 explained my mission tho doctor
are too yS%rs and not big enough
"Gentlsmsn," said I, "T 40 not want to eniiss but
came here demand explanation OF this letter."
The officer read the note and said "I know that writ
Ing" and then he called sergeant inc sergeant.
TO the call and in him recognized the
who had addressed me at Delmonco,s
sergeant do you know this lad r asked the ofncer In
"Know him! Well. should say Hes deserter
He ran away from tho army four years He was then
in the recruiting mt Jefferson Barraeks No.
He laid his hands on my shoulder and dramatically told
thatI Saa
struck would not describe my feelings almost tainted
and declared that had never been in the army and
wanted to be- called their attention to the TACT
head ocsr said he would have to act word of the
sergeant And must remain under arrest until they could
70. pT1 ais - an outrage said; Ito conne me Is the
They ali Laughed at me and said that the way de-
always talked. stl protesting was hnndcnned
and taken over Governors Island MY clothes were
my disposal. was put to work with gang o. military
was SSTpe r 70 n,n IN
atty OF being shot by guard who stood over mo win
cooked revolver In two weeks time was sent 70 Jer
with thirty other prisoners They locked twelyepound
shac.es 90 my ankles bad 70 work a. hard soer con
sport Of by men for whom punishment OF that Tna nen
work the next day Just the same
Once refused TO work through sheer exhausuon ana
sa 20 S
over beam. II wa. then drawn up and my arms we're
the floor The irons deep into my flesh TIL the blood
poured from the wounds After forty minutes OF agony
! was cut down. I was then ued by rope
and my shackIes TO cart. My body
touched the earth and was dragged for milo over
the ground. was allowed bread and water ana
given double to do because OF my revolt
This lasted from November To January, when was
triod by n conrt-maral Captain Henry Vessel was
president Of The court aud Lieutenant George Chase
Judge advocate. I not permitted TO say n worn IN
m own defence or course convicted ON Sergeant
Barileys evidence The trial lasted inst twenty minutes
was sentenced four years punishment and without
Fort Leavenworth military prison. In Kansas. on my
arrival there dressed In prison UNIFORM ana put
into n stone quarry "a work. -
This anheard OF outrage was perpetraed on me, an
Innocent man. the United states army oniciais ana
their aides am to-day ruined man, broken down IN
health almost Insane misfortunes aud Win no
means OF securing reparation,
bear on the indifferent officials the War Department
ia aud with the aid OF surgeons certincafe
OF disability secured my release after fonr months I'M
prisonmen was given s. suit OF cheap clothes ana
q ticket Chicago This prucely sum for tho abuse ara
imprisonment, Tor the loss OF my heMth
Tor tire death OF my mother, caused by
the shock OF my imprisonment appeal to
the public for Us opinion on sucb an outrage
and AK rs American citizen, u II Is ROT worthy OF
some thoughti I'm going 10 tell the boys and young
men keep away from tue army as they would from
Location IN with smallpox. may be little bitter
against IL. bat think IL j. parionable- /,
My discharge from the prison shows that suffered
for some poor lad named Ernest Barry, who deserted
fonr before ncarceratrd Tor his offence Ills
home when he enlisted, was in Cincinnati have never
been there In my life"